splatbass Loc: Honolulu

I booked a flight to Las Vegas from Honolulu for a two week RV trip. I am taking a two cameras, and three or four lenses. It didn't say anything when I booked the flight, but the itinerary they sent (United) says no carry on bags probably due to a small plane from SFO to LAS. So I'm not sure what to do now. Cancel and pay the cancellation fee? Gate check backpack in carry on suitcase? Check a pelican case and risk theft? None of these options are ideal. It is a once in a lifetime kind of trip, with stops at national parks, etc., including the elk rut at Rocky Mountain NP, so it is essential I take my gear (photography is one of the prime reasons for the trip). I can take a personal item (I have a messenger bag that holds a camera and two small lenses), but the telephotos needed for wildlife won't fit.

Any advice?

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I have a Pelican Air case that has two lock points and can be ordered with interior dividing and padding. I have had to check it twice and everything came out OK. Good luck!

Quixdraw Loc: x

You might be able to set up a ship (insured) and hold for guest (hotel, outfitter, etc.) arrival. Considering that for my recently acquired 200-500 for an upcoming trip.
Edit:
Have both a Pellie & a Tundra - 2 locks. What I would worry about is the whole case vanishing in transit.

marsdad Loc: NE Florida

You might possibly arrange to rent a camera and lens (lenses) and have it sent to your first hotel stop for pickup. Could give you a change try out a rig in which you have had a previous interest.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Any guidance about what "no carry on" means? Surely women can carry handbags - what can men carry?

btbg

If it is like most of the small aircraft that fly into the Western U.S. it is a Q400 or something of similar size. I can't speak for United, but what Alaska does is let you keep your carry on with you and then check it into baggage as you board the plane.

If United allows that it stops the problems with theft. When you get off the plane in Las Vegas there will then be a cart with all of the carry-ons on it right by the plane and you just pick yours up. If United does something similar then all you have to do is make sure it is packed securely.

The second choice is to carry two smaller carry-ons. Usually airlines allow one carry-on plus one personal item. If you take two small backpacks you can stow one in the overhead bin and one under the seat in front of you. That choice would mean that your camera equipment would be with you at all times, but would not be in a padded camera bag.

I have used both options. If you chose to go with two backpacks make sure that the one that you claim as a personal item is smaller than the other one and make sure that they are packed in such a way that they can be flattened if necessary to fit into the overhead compartment because those compartments are quite small. Something like 9" x 12" x 8". That's not exact. I have not found an exact measurement of what will fit in those particular planes because they make them with two different overhead bin sizes.

I think you will find that unless you have a lens larger than a foot in length that you could get them all in that way, although it is a nuisance.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Are you traveling alone? If not you can share the carry on / under seat options? Gate checking is a good option, since you check your stuff at the gate, and collect it when you get off the plane. I've found it safe and trustworthy. Soft cases for your lenses could work.

Good luck

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

In the last 3 years I’ve been on a lot of flights in small regional jets. They all had overhead bins, but many will not accommodate the average carry on bag, but they always were large enough for a medium size camera backpack. Even if you have a large one they should allow you to carry it to the plane. At your request I have seen gate agents wrap bags in plastic wrapping tape for added security.
I would call United and find out exactly what type of aircraft they have scheduled and what the “no carry on” policy really means.

splatbass Loc: Honolulu

One personal item, but no overhead sized items - like my camera backpack.

Bill_de Loc: US

Check the plane configuration. I was travelling with a friend who travels probably three weeks out of every month. They came around the waiting area putting tags on bags saying they had to be checked because of the small plane. When they got to us my friend said to ask the captain if we can put our camera gear in the cabinet in the back of the plane. She said, what cabinet? He again requested that she inquire with the captain. She did, and came back to us with, they're too heavy for me, so bring them on now.

After that, on a short flight from Chicago to Grand Rapids they were gate checking luggage. I had my loaded backpack. I asked the stewardess if they had any extra room in the crew's cabinet. She looked and said sure.

It doesn't happen all the time, but if you ask nice and smile, sometimes you get lucky.

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splatbass Loc: Honolulu

Thanks everyone, there is some good advice here for me to consider. I discovered that it doesn't apply to Mileage Plus Premium members, and my fiance is a Mileage Plus 1K member, so hopefully that will work. But if not I need a backup plan so I'll consider all of these great ideas.

I'll pobably put my stuff in two bags, a messenger bag big enough for a camera and two lenses which will fit under the seat, and a smaller than normal backpack with the other lenses and second body.

The gear I'm taking is:

Nikon D750 and D5500
Nikon 24-120 F4
Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 G2
Nikon 300mm PF
Sigma 150-500mm (may leave home)
1.4x and 1.7x teleconverters
Nikon 35mm f1.8 (maybe)
Macbook Air

In my checked bag I'll put my Benro tripod and some minor accessories. I alway take a tripod in a checked bag and have never had a problem.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I have no issue gate checking a sturdy bag or checking a Pelican case with my gear. I have had no problems and have insurance. Perhaps that's why I am not paranoid.

BTW, some of the smaller aircraft do not have luggage space under every seat.

United, or it's carrier, has the proposed aircraft type on your booking and also spells out the dimensions and number of carry on bags online.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Check with the airline.
I took a big plane to Buffalo and then a puddle jumper (~24 passenger?) commuter jet to Toronto.
When we were going up the "portable" stairs to the little plane, they took our carry-ons and put them in the belly of the plane right there. No "safety" problems with the carry-ons.

repleo Loc: Boston

Wear a coat or jacket with big pockets and carry your most important body and lens in the pockets. Leave the rest of your gear in the camera bag. Gate check the camera bag if of they won't let you bring it on the plane with you.

lautenk2

What quixdraw said. Fedex or UPS your large lenses to the hotel or outfitter (and they've probably handled this for other guests already) or somebody else you trust (finding someone like that might be the hard part, you said you're coming from HI?) I've done motorcycle trips like this, carry only what fits in my pockets and ship the luggage, and it's worked well enough. It helps to get a Fedex account (it's easy, quick to get, and free) because then, for the trip home, you can order a shipment, and Fedex Ground will pick up your stuff from the hotel. You don't have to be there, but you need to fill out a waybill ahead of time and call to order the pickup. This all costs more than the airline's luggage fees, but it may not be much more, and it's more secure than the airlines if your "agent" at the destination is trustworthy. Sounds like a really great trip, don't get discouraged. My trip of a lifetime would be to visit your state.